Day three! This was definitely my peak of these first days of backpacking. Reaching the iconic lighthouse at Cape Reinga! While it’s not quite the most northern point of New Zealand (North Cape is further north, but it’s a scientific reserve and not open to the public), Cape Reinga is definitely the end of the road.
Here the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, in a spectacular swirl of currents. According to Maori oral history, the spirits of Maori deceased leap from this point into the ocean to return to their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki. Many travellers come here and say their last goodbyes to their loved ones. This special energy that you feel here is indescribable. Once I got all the pictures I needed, I just gazed into the endless sea, meditated and said my thank yous.
One of the most popular ways to see the remote and stunning Cape Reinga area is a guided tour with scenic flights along the west and east coasts of New Zealand. If your on a tight budget, tag along with someone or take the bus trip all around the Northeast point.
